Water-heater.



No. 652,!76. Patented lune I9, 1900.

H. F. GABEL.

WATER HEATER.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Shegts-Sheet I.

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No. 652,l76. Pa'tented lune l9, I900.

H. F. GABEL.

WATER HEATER.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 652.176. Patented June lafmoo.

H. F. GABEL.

WATER HEATER. (Application filed Mar. 22, 1899.\

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. GABEL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GABEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

WATER-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 652,176, dated June 19, 1900.

Application filed March 22, 1899.

' To all whom it may concern:

v Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Heaters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved heater. Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation at right angles to that of Fig. 1 and broken away to show the throttling-valve for the water-supply pipe. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the valve mechanism. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modified form of the water-valve. Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections on the lines V V and VI VI, respectively, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the coil-joint.

My invention relates to automatic waterheaters, and is designed to improve the valve system therefor, as well as the general construction of the heater, and, further, to provide relief -doors which will prevent injury from explosions, and to provide connections whereby the gas-supply to the main burner is cut off when the casing door is opened for igniting the pilot-light.

In the drawings, 2 2 represent vertical posts or standards which are secured to opposite sides of a base casting 3. The casing of the heater is formed by curved doors 4, which are pivoted to the standards by suitable hinges 5, and to which inner curved sections 6 of the lining are secured with interposed spacing-blocks 7 between them, as shown. Stationary portions 6 of the lining are similarly secured to the inner faces of the standards and complete the inner lining of the heater. The casing-doors 4 are not locked in closed position; but the pivotal points of the lower hinges are outside those of the up per hinges, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the action of gravity tends to keep the doors closed. They will, however, open under sudden or excessive pressure within the heater and avoid the dangerous efiects of accidental explosions, as they will yield and swing outwardly in such case.

The main gas-burnersS are mounted on a Y the valves.

Serial N0. 710,025. (No model.)

circular gas-reservoir 9, which is supported by the spider 10, secured within the circular base 3. A vertical standard 11 is centrally secured to the spider and carries upon it a series of spiders 12, having collars which surround this rod. The heating-coil consists of a pipe which is coiled in reverse spirals which are inclined alternately in-opposite directions, as shown. The lower spiders 12 are of skeleton form, leaving a free open central space,

into which the flames may pass freely, while the upper spiders are provided with plates 13, which act as baffie-plates to direct the products of combustion into contact with the coils. To the upper end of the central stand ard is secured a cage 14, of skeleton form, which supports the top 15 of the heater and is provided with a side lug 16, which carries the hot-water-outlet pipe of the heater.

17 is a drip-pan in the bottom of the heater, which will catch any condensation from the coils.

The water-supply pipe 18 leads into a valvechamber 19 and is provided with a throttlevalve consisting of a plug 20, which is screwed into an elbow 21 and is adjusted by app1ying a wrench to a squared portion 22 at its outer end. This'plug may be covered by a screw casing or cap 23. The valve-chamber 19, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with'a ball-valve 24, which rests within a verticallymovable cage 25, which is hollow and open atits top and contains in its lower portion the valve-seat, upon which the ball 24is supported. This cage fits neatly within the casing 19 and is connected by rod 26 with the gas-valve 27 within the valve chamber 28. The valve 27 consists of a short cylinder with a flange at its lower end and provided with projecting prongs 27, which guide the valve when opened. By this construction 1 preventv any sudden pulsation or current in the water-pipe from throwing open the gas-valve accidentally, as it must be moved a certain distance before it opens.

The upper end of the stem .26 projects through chamber 28 and is provided with a spiral spring 29, which bears on a nut at its upper end and exerts alifting pressure upon This upper part of the stem is inclosed by a suitable casing 31. In the lower end of the casing 19 is placed an adjustable vertical pin 32, which may. be secured in adjusted position bya nut 33 and which will lift the ball-valve from its seat whenever the cage 25 is sufficiently lowered.

34 is the Water-supply pipe, which leads from the casing 19 to the heater-coil.

The gas-supply pipe 35, which leads to the chamber 28, is provided with a regulatingvalve 36, the projecting stem of which carries an arm 37, having a pivotal link connection 38 with an arm 39, secured to the casing-door,

which gives access to the pilot-light 8. These parts are so arranged that whenever this door is opened the gas-supply to the main burners will thereby be cut olf. A branch pipe 40 leads from the gas-pipe 35 in the rear of the valve to the pilot-light burner 36.

41 is the gas-supply pipe leading from the valve-chamber 28 to the gas-reservoir 9 in the heater.

The operation of the valve system is as follows: The valves being normally in the position shown in Fig. 3, when the hot-water spigots of the house system are opened, the pressure being reduced within the valvechamber 19, the water-pressu re in pipe 18 will enter and force down the cage 25, and thereby open the valve 24, so that water will flow to the heater, the gas-valve 27 being opened by this same movement. When the spigots are closed, the pressure in pipes 18 and 31 will equalize and the spring 29 will lift the valves into their normal position. If any excessive pressureis generated in the heater, it will lift the loose valve 24 and pass out into the main, thus relieving theheater.

Instead of fitting the cage 25 within the valve-casing 19 I may secure the cage to a flexible diaphragm. Thus in Fig. 4: I show the cage 25 as centrally secured to a flexible diaphragm 42, the edges of which are secured between an annular flange on the valveagainst each 'other.

chamber 19 and the rim of a spider 43, screwed within the chamber. The action in this case will be the same as above described, the pressures upon the diaphragm moving the cage and the valve vertically.

In Fig. 7 I show an improved joint for the pipes of the coils, the ends of the pipes having packing-rings 4C4 threaded thereon and being flanged outwardly, the flanges abutting A hollow screw-plug 45 surrounds one pipe in the rear of the packing-ring and a flanged nut 46 surrounds the other pipe and engages the screw-plug, its flange pressing upon the packing-ring. strong and simple joint is thus afforded.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The connecting of the gas-regulating valve with the door which gives access to'the pilot-light insures the cutting off of the gas-supply to the main burner when the pilot-light is being ignited, thus avoiding danger of explosion from a heavy flow of gas into the combustionchamber from the main burner if it were supplied with gas. The use of the movable cage containing the loose valve gives an effective regulation of the gas-supply, while at the same time no sediment can collect in the valve-casing and any excessive back pressure will lift the valve and allow the fluid to pass back into the main, thus avoiding danger from excessive pressure in the heater. The yielding casing-doors will relieve the heater in the case of explosion and prevent injury to the parts. The forming of the heater-coil with a free inner space within the lower coils allows the flames to pass up within this space,the products then being deflected among the tubes. The whole construction is compact and strong and may be easily made and assembled.

Many variations maybe made in the form and arrangement of the valves, the heatingcoil, the burners, and the other parts without departing from my invention, since I claim- 1. A water-heater having a main burner and a pilot-light burner, and provided with a door to give access to the pilot-light burner, a gas-regulating valve in the pipe leading to the main burner, actuating connections between the door and said valve, arranged to cut olf the gas to the main burner when the door is open, and a supply-pipe leading to the pilot-light burner and independent of the regulating-valve; substantially as described.

2. A water-heater having a vertically-extending water-coil supported ongrids, the lower portion of the coil having an open inner space, and a central baffle-plate above this open portion; substantially as described.

3. A water-heater having a central vertical standard, spiders secured thereto, and a vertical water-coil having the different portions thereof supported upon the spiders, said coil having a central baffle-plate substantially as described.

4. In a regulator for water-heaters, a valvechamber containing a movable cage having a loose valve inclosed therein, a projecting pin arranged to contact with the valve and open it when the cage is moved, a water-supply pipe leading into the chamber on one side of the cage, an outlet leading from the other side of the cage, and a gas-valve connected to the cage; substantially as described.

5. In a regulator for water-heaters, a vertically-movable cage containing aloose downwardly-seatin g ball-valve,a centrally-projectin g pin arranged to contact with the ball when the cage is moved down,- and a gas-valve connected to the cage; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY F. GA BEL.

\Vitnesses:

F. E. GAITHER, H. M. CORWIN.

IIO 

